A case study of Indigenous evaluation: how it was done, why the process was important, the critical insights gained along the way and the resulting implications for not only the client and Martu people, but also for evaluators and Indigenous program and policy-makers.

Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ) is a Martu organisation – Martu are the traditional custodians of a vast area in the Western Desert of the Pilbara. In 2020, KJ engaged Social Ventures Australia Consulting (SVA) to evaluate their impact on Martu communities between 2010 and 2020. In that evaluation, Martu articulated 11 outcomes that were important to them and KJ’s contributions were measured against those outcomes.

This article does not share the results of that evaluation but rather reflects on and emphasises the importance of the process undertaken in an evaluation for and with Aboriginal communities.

SVA has had a long working relationship with KJ and Martu communities with our first project dating back to 2010. We have been on a journey with KJ and Martu for 10 years and this evaluation was an opportunity to look back, listen and translate Martu’s experiences not only for KJ but also for those working in the Indigenous sector.